The number of British Columbian participants in the Friday, November 29, 2019, Climate March was down, everywhere. 100,000 marched through the streets of Vancouver two months ago; A thousand took part in the mock funeral that ended with six arrests. A similar number blocked traffic in front of BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in Victoria for half an hour. Only 200 people rallied in Courtenay’s Simms Millennium Park, before marching downtown. There were only dozens in Kelowna. Fifteen people – all but two of them students – took part in a Cortes Island event. This prompted the organizer to ask, “Where are we when our youth need a helping hand to carry the big load?”
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BC’s Largest Climate March Ever
By Roy L Hales
There were climate marches across the province. According to the Vancouver City Police, 100,000 marched through the province’s largest city. Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver estimates 250,000. Someone standing on the Cambie Street Bridge noted it took the demonstrators 74 minutes to cross. SaltSpring Live sent a video of the march in Victoria (embedded below), where 20,000 assembled at the provincial legislature. Some Campbell River demonstrators were among the 3,000 who marched through downtown Courtenay; only two dozen remained behind to protest at Campbell River’s City Hall (story below). A thousand gathered in Kelowna, 400 in Tofino, 400 in Whistler, a hundred in Port Alberni and several dozen in Powell River. I have yet to hear numbers for the events in Kamloops, Chilliwack, Langley, Penticton, Burns Lake, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Ucluelet, North Pender, Mayne, Gabriola and Denman Islands. British Columbia’s largest Climate March ever took place yesterday.
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The Merry McKentys Return Home On Tour
According to the description on their website, the McKentys saga starts sounds on a steep snowy mountainside in the backwoods of British Columbia. Robert and Elizabeth had a small cabin, “many children of various sizes, a wood stove, a small battery-powered stereo system that sometimes worked, a mandolin, and several fiddles.” By the time they moved to Cortes, the Merry McKenty were on their way towards becoming a band.
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Riding Vancouver’s Old Interurban
By Roy L Hales
In 1910, Vancouver had one of North America’s most advanced electric train networks. The old interurban line ran for 114 miles, to Chilliwack in the heart of the Fraser Valley. It also serviced the sleepy village of Steveston to the south. This technological wonder was abandoned when British Columbians turned to the automobile, in the 1950s. A 4.6 mile segment of the route through Surrey was recently brought back to life as part of living museum project. So I went riding Vancouver’s old interurban.
Andy Vine’s Pilgrimage
By Roy L Hales
Andy Vine’s best known song is probably Woman of Labrador, which was released in 2005. His musical roots go back to the UK’s 1960s folk revival. CKTZ listeners know him as the host of the Folk Club, every Wednesday at 10:00 AM. I recently interviewed Andy about folk music, his trip to Ireland and much more.